getjmel



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

F. R. GRUMEL.

BLOTTING CASE.

Patented Nov. 29,1881.

By. M

N. PETERS. Pmwuma mpher, Wmhinghm. D.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANQOIS R. GRUMEL, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

BLOTTlNG-CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,234, dated November29, 1881. Application filed August 26, 1881. (N0 model.) Patented inFrance June 9, 1881.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANQOIS REMY GRU- MEL,a resident of Paris,Department of Seine, in the Republic of France, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Blotting-Gases, of which the following is aspecification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 4, 7, and 10 are plan views,showing the arrangement of the blotter in its various forms. Figs. 2, 5,8, and 11 are longitudinal sections, and Figs. 3, 6, 9, and 12 are endviews of Figs. 1, 4, 7, and 10, respectively.

My invention relates to that class of blotters or portfolios in whichare combined one or more sheets of blotting-paper, a pocket orreceptacle for storing writing-paper and envelopes, and a cover for thesame.

At present at most of the public resorts such as steamboat-saloons,hotels, railroadstations, public libraries, and other like publicplaces-blotters composed simply of one or more sheets of blotting-papersare provided for the passengers or visitors for use as a yieldingsupport for letter-paper and as a blotter, and with these are generallyfound pen and ink, which latter are apt to be carried from one place toanother by the person using the same, and they are apt to be mislaid orlost, so that the next person desiring to use the said pen or the penand ink is obliged to hunt for them or to ask an attendant to do so.Inasmuch as these blotters are to be found at nearly all, if not all, ofthe public resorts named, the invention has for its object to supplythese blotters with stationery-such as letterpaper and envelopes-and topermanently connect therewith an inkstand and means where by a pen orpencil, or both, may be removably connected with such blotter.

When the blotter is made for private use-- as, for example, for use inan office of a commercial establishment, or that of a lawyer orphysician, or for use by students, draftsmen, or in private familiessuehobjects as scissors, paper-knives, penknives, drawing or physicians orsurgeons instruments, or articles employed for sewing, may be connectedwiththe blotters, according to where such blotter's are to be employed.

When the blotters are made for public or private use, the sheets ofblotting-paper, as

well as the cover or covers of the blotter, may serve as an advertisingmedium, and may have advertisin g-eards prin tedor otherwise attachedthereto.

To these ends the invention consists in a blotter, as a new article ofmanufacture, composed of a series of sheets of blotting-paper united inbook form, and provided with covers, one of which extends beyond thepaper and is provided with receptacles for writing and other implements,as described, and substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In practice I propose to make the blotters for public use, as shown,Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of two or more sheets of blotting-paper, a, united atone edge to aflexible back, b,0f leather, cloth, paper, or othersuitable material, which back is united to a cover of stiff papercard-board, pasteboard, wood, or leather, or other suitable material orcombination of such materials, and to the inside of one of the leaves ofsaid cover, either the upper leaf, 0, or the under leaf, 0, I attach apocket or receptacle, d, for the reception of letter-paper andenvelopes. This pocket may be made with the usual bellows folds, or inany other desired manner, and I preferably attach it to the insideof theupperleaf. Along one of the inside edges of either the upper or thelower leaf of the cover I permanently attach an inkstand, e, by any ofthe well-known means usually employed for such purposes. I preferablyuse an inkstand with a self-seat in g spring-lid, though other forms ofinkstand may be employed. I further attach along said edge one or moreloops, 6, in which a pen or a pencil, or both, may be inserted and held.

The outer faces of the leavescc of the cover I divide into any desirednumber of spaces, 0 for insertion of advertisements, which may beprinted in such spaces or removably connected therewith by framing thesame. One conven ient method of effecting this is to surround the faceof the leaves of the cover with a per manently-attached framing and makethe intermediate division or spacing strips movable by hinging thematone end and securing them at the other by means of any suitablelocking device.

The inside of the leaf 0 or c, the face of the pocket, and the sheets ofblotting-paper are or may be also used for displaying advertise ments,so that whether the blotter is opened or closed a numberof suchadvertisements are always visible.

Whether the inkstand and the pen, or the pen and pencil, or othersuitable articles, are attached to the inside edge of the upper or thelower leaf, either at the left or right hand edge, or the upper or thelower edge of either of said leaves, it is evident that when the blotteris opened they will always be in a position for use and within practicalreach of the person desiring to make use of them.

Instead ofmaking both leaves c of the cover of the same size, the upperleaf may be made shorter or narrower, according to thelocation of theinkstand and other articles on the lower leaf, so that such articleswill always be in view, in which case a self-sealing inkstand or aclosed inkstand is not absolutely necessary, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5;or the said articles may be arranged within a casing or receptacle,f,that may or may not he provided with a cover, f.

As shown in Figs. 7 and S, the casing is attached to the left edge ofthe lower leaf, 0, of the cover, the upper shorter leaf, 0, thereofbeing adapted to bethrown from theperson using the same in the directionof the arrow.

Instead of connecting articles, such as hereinbefore referred to, alongone edge of one of the leaves or cover, two or three of the edges may beused for this purpose, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

Instead of printing or otherwise connecting advertisements with thecover-leaves c c or the pocket, these may be made of any suitablematerial more or less costly, and ornamented in anyofthe various waysknown to this branch of the arts, either by embossing, metallizing,coloring, painting-in fact they may be made to display any of the almostendless ornamentations applied to such articles.

If desired, the upper leaf, 0, of the cover and its pocket d may bedispensed with and the sheets of blotting-paper alone used fordisplaying advertisements, such sheets being united in book form (orotherwise, so as to adapt them to be turned over) to the lower leaf, 0,though I prefer to use both cover-leaves.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a' blotter composed of a series ofsheets of blotting-paper united in book form, and provided with covers,one of which extends beyond the paper, and is provided with receptaclesfor writing and other implements, as described, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this5th day of August, 1881.

FRANQOIS REMY GRUMEL.

Witnesses:

E. PAGE, Roar. M. HOOPER.

